U.S. patent number 9,347,714 [Application Number 13/885,281] was granted by the patent office on 2016-05-24 for battery assembly having a heat-dissipating and heat-emitting functions.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LG HAUSYS, LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is Yong-Bae Jung, Min-Hee Lee, Seong-Hoon Yue. Invention is credited to Yong-Bae Jung, Min-Hee Lee, Seong-Hoon Yue.
United States Patent |
9,347,714 |
Yue , et al. |
May 24, 2016 |
Battery assembly having a heat-dissipating and heat-emitting
functions
Abstract
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a battery
assembly comprises: a battery module comprising a plurality of unit
batteries; an exterior case for housing the battery module in an
internal space; and a heat-dissipating film which is inserted
between the plurality of unit batteries and fitted tightly against
each of the plurality of unit batteries, and is attached to the
inside surface of the exterior case; and the heat-dissipating film
comprises: first and second heat-dissipating layers which are
formed of a thermally conductive material and discharge the heat of
the unit batteries; and an adhesive layer which is formed between
the first and second heat-dissipating layers and adheres the first
and second heat-dissipating layers.
Inventors: |
Yue; Seong-Hoon (Seongnam-si,
KR), Lee; Min-Hee (Gunpo-si, KR), Jung;
Yong-Bae (Cheongju-si, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yue; Seong-Hoon
Lee; Min-Hee
Jung; Yong-Bae |
Seongnam-si
Gunpo-si
Cheongju-si |
N/A
N/A
N/A |
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG HAUSYS, LTD. (Seoul,
KR)
|
Family
ID: |
46084521 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/885,281 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2011 |
PCT
Filed: |
November 16, 2011 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/KR2011/008768 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
May 14, 2013 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2012/067432 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
May 24, 2012 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20130236753 A1 |
Sep 12, 2013 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 17, 2010 [KR] |
|
|
10-2010-0114453 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B82Y
30/00 (20130101); H01M 10/6571 (20150401); F28F
21/02 (20130101); H01M 10/613 (20150401); H01M
10/6554 (20150401); H01M 10/63 (20150401); H01M
10/6555 (20150401); H01M 10/625 (20150401); H01M
10/655 (20150401); H01M 50/20 (20210101); B82Y
40/00 (20130101); H01M 6/5038 (20130101); C01B
32/168 (20170801); H01M 10/647 (20150401); H01M
10/615 (20150401); H01M 2220/20 (20130101); Y02E
60/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B82Y
30/00 (20110101); F28F 21/02 (20060101); H01M
10/613 (20140101); H01M 10/6554 (20140101); H01M
10/6555 (20140101); H01M 10/6571 (20140101); H01M
6/50 (20060101); H01M 2/10 (20060101); C01B
31/02 (20060101); B82Y 40/00 (20110101); H01M
10/625 (20140101); H01M 10/615 (20140101); H01M
10/647 (20140101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101312603 |
|
Nov 2008 |
|
CN |
|
101855746 |
|
Oct 2010 |
|
CN |
|
2008120065 |
|
May 2008 |
|
JP |
|
20070025418 |
|
Mar 2007 |
|
KR |
|
100803698 |
|
Mar 2008 |
|
KR |
|
20110098290 |
|
Sep 2011 |
|
KR |
|
20120052716 |
|
May 2012 |
|
KR |
|
Other References
International Search Report mailed May 29, 2012 for
PCT/KR2011/008768. cited by applicant .
Chinese Office Action dated Oct. 22, 2014. cited by applicant .
Chinese Office Action dated Jun. 5, 2015. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Alejandro; Raymond
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hauptman Ham, LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A heat-dissipating film comprising: first and second
heat-dissipating layers formed of a thermally conductive material
that discharges heat of unit batteries; an adhesive layer formed
between the first and second heat-dissipating layers to attach the
first and second heat-dissipating layers to each other; a
heat-emitting film formed between the first heat-dissipating layer
and the adhesive layer, wherein the heat-emitting film comprises: a
base layer on which an electrode layer and a carbon nanotube
heating body are printed; and an insulating layer formed between
the electrode layer of the base layer and the first
heat-dissipating layer to attach the base layer to the first
heat-dissipating layer while insulating the electrode layer and the
first heat-dissipating layer from each other.
2. The heat-dissipating film according to claim 1, wherein the
carbon nanotube heating body is formed by doping, on surfaces of
carbon nanotubes, at least one metal selected from among Ag, Cu,
Ni, Au, Pt, and Pd.
3. The heat-dissipating film according to claim 1, wherein the
insulating layer is a double-sided adhesive film formed of any one
adhesive selected from among acrylic adhesives, hot-melt adhesives,
silicone adhesives, and rubber adhesives.
4. The heat-dissipating film according to claim 1, wherein the
electrode layer of the base layer is electrically connected to both
an anode and a cathode of each of the unit batteries to provide a
heat-emitting function to the carbon nanotube heating body.
5. The heat-dissipating film according to claim 1, wherein the base
layer is formed of at least one material selected from among
biaxially oriented polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, oriented
polystyrene, oriented polypropylene, polyethylene naphthalate,
polyether sulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyimide, and polyether
imide.
6. The heat-dissipating film according to claim 1, wherein the
adhesive layer is a double-sided tape formed of any one selected
from among acrylic tapes, hot-melt tapes, silicone tapes, and
rubber tapes.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
Embodiments of the present invention relate to battery assemblies
having heat-dissipating and heat-emitting functions.
BACKGROUND ART
In existing hybrid vehicles, a hot-wire heater or a ceramic-based
positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater is separately mounted
to supply hot air, which is heated by the heater as needed, via a
fan, thereby improving battery efficiency.
Existing heaters have high initial inrush current, which results in
at least twice as much current consumption as the heaters need, and
are configured to supply heated air, thereby causing significant
reduction in charge capacity of a battery due to heat generation
and high initial current consumption in an initial operation stage.
Further, in pure electric vehicles, the charge amount of the
battery directly affects operation efficiency, so that the existing
heaters are not suitable for such electric vehicles.
Thus, one embodiment of the present invention provides a battery
assembly, in which a heater is realized using a planar heating body
coated with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), such that the heater can be
more uniformly and quickly heated by direct thermal conduction,
thereby improving initial operation efficiency of the battery
assembly.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
An aspect of the present invention is to provide a battery assembly
having heat-dissipating and heat-emitting functions, in which a
heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film including a carbon nanotube
heating body (metal-doped carbon nanotubes) is coated on a battery
module and/or an exterior case, and electrical and heat-conductive
characteristics of the coated carbon nanotubes are maximized,
thereby providing both the heat-dissipating and heat-emitting
function at the same time.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a battery
assembly having heat-dissipating and heat-emitting functions, which
is capable of increasing the battery efficiency of a vehicle, which
is reduced due to external temperature in initial operation of the
vehicle in winter, and capable of quickly removing heat from the
battery during operation of the vehicle.
A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a battery
assembly having heat-dissipating and heat-emitting functions, which
may control heating temperature of a battery module and/or an
exterior case using a temperature sensor and a controller to
maintain the battery temperature under an optimum condition
(0-30.degree. C.), thereby preventing fire due to battery
overheating.
Aspects of the present invention are not limited to these aspects
and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to
those skilled in the art from the following description.
Technical Solution
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
heat-dissipating film includes: first and second heat-dissipating
layers formed of a thermally conductive material and discharging
heat of unit batteries; and an adhesive layer formed between the
first and second heat-dissipating layers to attach the first and
second heat-dissipating layers to each other.
The heat-dissipating film may further include a heat-emitting film
formed between the first heat-dissipating layer and the adhesive
layer.
The heat-emitting film may include a base layer on which an
electrode layer and a carbon nanotube (CNT) heating body are
printed; and an insulating layer formed between the electrode layer
of the base layer and the first heat-dissipating layer to attach
the base layer to the first heat-dissipating layer while insulating
the electrode layer and the first heat-dissipating layer from each
other.
The carbon nanotube heating body may be formed by doping, on
surfaces of carbon nanotubes, at least one metal selected from
among Ag, Cu, Ni, Au, Pt, and Pd.
The insulating layer may be a double-sided adhesive film formed of
any one adhesive selected from among acrylic adhesives, hot-melt
adhesives, silicone adhesives, and rubber adhesives.
The electrode layer of the base layer may be electrically connected
to both an anode and a cathode of each of the unit batteries to
provide a heat-emitting function to the carbon nanotube heating
body.
The base layer may be formed of at least one material selected from
among biaxially oriented polyester (BOPET), polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), oriented polystyrene (OPS), oriented
polypropylene (OPP), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyether
sulfone (PES), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyimide (PI), and
polyether imide (PEI).
The adhesive layer may be a double-sided tape formed of any one
selected from among acrylic tapes, hot-melt tapes, silicone tapes,
and rubber tapes.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a
battery assembly includes: a battery module including a plurality
of unit batteries; an exterior case for housing the battery module
in an internal space; and a heat-dissipating film inserted between
the plurality of unit batteries to tightly contact each of the unit
batteries and to be attached to an inner surface of the exterior
case. Here, the heat-dissipating film includes: first and second
heat-dissipating layers formed of a thermally conductive material
and discharging heat of the unit batteries; and an adhesive layer
formed between the first and second heat-dissipating layers to
attach the first and second heat-dissipating layers to each
other.
The battery assembly may further include a heat-emitting film
formed between the first heat-dissipating layer and the adhesive
layer.
The heat-emitting film may include a base layer on which an
electrode layer and a carbon nanotube (CNT) heating body are
printed; and an insulating layer formed between the electrode layer
of the base layer and the first heat-dissipating layer to attach
the base layer to the first heat-dissipating layer while insulating
the electrode layer and the first heat-dissipating layer from each
other.
The battery assembly may further include: a temperature sensor
provided to at least one of the unit batteries; and a controller
controlling power supply to the electrode layer of the base layer
based on temperature detection results from the temperature
sensor.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, an
exterior case includes a heat-dissipating film attached to an inner
surface thereof and discharges heat generated from unit batteries,
wherein the heat-dissipating film includes: first and second
heat-dissipating layers formed of a thermally conductive material
and discharging heat from the unit batteries; and an adhesive layer
formed between the first and second heat-dissipating layers to
attach the first and second heat-dissipating layers to each
other.
The exterior case may further include a heat-emitting film formed
between the first heat-dissipating layer and the adhesive
layer.
The heat-emitting film may include a base layer on which an
electrode layer and a carbon nanotube (CNT) heating body are
printed; and an insulating layer formed between the electrode layer
of the base layer and the first heat-dissipating layer to attach
the base layer to the first heat-dissipating layer while insulating
the electrode layer and the first heat-dissipating layer from each
other.
The exterior case may further include: a temperature sensor
provided to at least one inner surface of the exterior case; and a
controller controlling power supply to the electrode layer of the
base layer based on temperature detection results from the
temperature sensor.
Details of other embodiments will be described in the detailed
description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the
invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the
following embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. It should be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the following embodiments and may be embodied in
different ways, and that the embodiments are provided for complete
disclosure and thorough understanding of the invention by those
skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is defined only by
the claims. Like components will be denoted by like reference
numerals throughout the specification.
Advantageous Effects
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided a battery assembly having heat-dissipating and
heat-emitting functions, in which a heat-dissipating and
heat-emitting film having a carbon nanotube heating body is coated
on a battery module and/or an exterior case, and electrical and
heat-conductive characteristics of the coated carbon nanotubes are
maximized, thereby providing both the heat-dissipating and
heat-emitting function at the same time.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided a battery assembly having heat-dissipating and
heat-emitting functions, which is capable of increasing battery
efficiency of a vehicle even when the vehicle initially operates in
winter, and capable of rapidly removing heat from the battery
during operation of the vehicle.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided a battery assembly having heat-dissipating and
heat-emitting functions, which controls the heating temperature of
a battery module and/or an exterior case using a temperature sensor
and a controller, such that battery temperature can be maintained
under an optimum condition (0-30.degree. C.), thereby preventing
fire due to battery overheating.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a graphical diagram showing test results on discharge
efficiency with respect to ambient temperature in a battery module
mounted in an electric vehicle.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a battery assembly
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the battery assembly
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view of a stack structure of a heat-dissipating and
heat-emitting film formed on a battery module and an exterior case
shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a view of an exemplary process for individually
controlling the heating temperature of the exterior case using a
temperature sensor and a controller.
FIG. 6 is a view of an exemplary process for controlling the
heating temperature of both the battery module and the exterior
case using the temperature sensor and the controller.
BEST MODE
FIG. 1 is a graphical diagram showing test results on discharge
efficiency with respect to ambient temperature in a battery module
mounted in an electric vehicle.
Referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that battery efficiency is
gradually degraded at 20.degree. C. or less below zero and at
40.degree. C. above zero during discharge.
Further, in Table 1, it can be seen that, for a 1200 Wh product,
the discharge efficiency is 88% at 10.degree. C. below zero and 66%
at 20.degree. C. below zero. Thus, a preferred temperature ranges
from 0.degree. C. to 30.degree. C. to maintain a battery in an
optimum operating condition.
Therefore, the present invention provides a battery module, an
exterior case, and a battery assembly having these components,
which are capable of increasing battery efficiency of a vehicle,
which can be reduced due to external temperature when the vehicle
initially operates in winter, and capable of quickly removing heat
from the battery generated during operation of the vehicle.
To this end, according to one embodiment of the present invention,
carbon nanotubes (CNT) are coated on a battery module and/or an
exterior case in a constant pattern, and electrical and
heat-conductive characteristics of the coated carbon nanotubes are
maximized, thereby providing both the heat-dissipating and
heat-emitting function at the same time.
Although carbon nanotubes are used as a material having
heat-dissipating and heat-emitting functions in some embodiments of
the invention, it is difficult to provide such heat-dissipating and
heat-emitting functions using pure carbon nanotubes alone.
Thus, according to some embodiments, the carbon nanotubes may be
doped with metal (metal doped CNT) to maximize heat-dissipating and
heat-emitting characteristics. Methods for coating the metal doped
CNT on the battery module or the exterior case include pad
printing, spray coating, printing using a transfer film, and the
like. According to one embodiment, a uniform metal doped CNT layer
may be formed on a 3-D contour using such coating methods.
Such a conductive layer may provide a heat-dissipating function to
dissipate heat from the battery module in a normal state, and may
receive electric energy to emit heat, as needed.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a CNT coating film
providing both a heat-dissipating function and a heat-emitting
function may be disposed between flat batteries and connected to
the battery module or the exterior case, thereby maximizing battery
efficiency.
According to one embodiment of the invention, since excessive
heat-emission can cause explosion of the battery, a controller may
be used to maintain battery efficiency, thereby preventing fire due
to heat-emission of the battery and thereby securing safety.
According to the embodiment of the invention, in an initial
operating stage of a heater, inrush current is not generated, such
that excessive current is not generated and the battery is
uniformly and rapidly heated, thereby improving heat-emitting
efficiency.
Embodiments of the present invention may provide heat-dissipating
and heat-emitting features by applying a coating to a high-strength
plastic exterior case, which is manufactured by prepregging
polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), epoxy, polypropylene (PP),
polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA) or the like into glass fibers,
pitch based carbon fibers, polyacryl nitrile (PAN)-based carbon
fibers, pitch based carbon chopped fibers, or pitch based milled
fibers, as well as stainless steel (SUS) or Al exterior cases,
which are generally used to form exterior casings of batteries.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a battery assembly
according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an
assembled perspective view of the battery assembly according to the
embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a view of a
stack structure of a heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film formed
on a battery module and an exterior case shown in FIG. 2.
Referring first to FIGS. 2 and 3, a battery assembly 200 according
to one embodiment of the invention may include a battery module, an
exterior case 220, and a heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film
230.
The battery module includes a plurality of unit batteries 210. Each
of the unit batteries 210 includes an anode 212 serving as a
positive electrode, and a cathode 214 serving as a negative
electrode. The heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film 230 is
interposed in a closely compact manner between the unit batteries
210. Details of the heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film 230
will be described below with reference to FIG. 4.
The exterior case 220 receives the plurality of unit batteries 210
therein. That is, the exterior case 220 serves as a cover for the
plurality of unit batteries 210. The heat-dissipating and
heat-emitting film 230 may also be attached to an inner surface of
the exterior case 220.
Although the heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film 230 is
described as being formed both between the plurality of unit
batteries 210 and on the inner surface of the exterior case 220 in
this embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto.
Thus, various heat-dissipating and heat-emitting films 230 may be
formed only between the unit batteries 210, or otherwise the
heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film 230 may be formed only on
the inner surface of the exterior case 220.
The heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film 230 may include a
heat-dissipating film which dissipates heat from the plurality of
unit batteries 210, and a heat-emitting film which emit heat upon
receiving power.
The heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film 230 will be described
in more detail with reference to FIG. 4. For reference, FIG. 4
shows a stack structure of the heat-dissipating and heat-emitting
film 230 of FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 4, the heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film 230
may include a first heat-dissipating layer 410, an insulating layer
420, an electrode layer 430, a carbon nanotube heating body 440, a
base layer 450, an adhesive layer 460, and a second
heat-dissipating layer 470.
The first heat-dissipating layer 410 is formed not only on each of
the surfaces of the unit batteries 210, but also on the inner
surface of the exterior case 220. The first heat-dissipating layer
410 may be formed of a thermally conductive material such as Al, Cu
or the like, to dissipate heat from the unit batteries.
The insulating layer 420 is formed on the first heat-dissipating
layer 410. The insulating layer 420 is interposed between the first
heat-dissipating layer 410 and the electrode layer 430 to insulate
the first heat-dissipating layer 410 and the electrode layer 430
from each other while allowing adhesion therebetween.
To this end, the insulating layer 420 may be realized by a
double-sided adhesive film composed of adhesives, such as acrylic
adhesives, hot-melt adhesives, silicone adhesives, rubber
adhesives, and the like.
The electrode layer 430 is formed on the insulating layer 420. As
described above, the electrode layer 430 is attached to the
insulating layer 420. The electrode layer 430 may be formed of an
electrically conductive material, such as Ag, Cu, Au, Al or the
like.
Such an electrode layer 430 may be electrically connected to the
anode (positive electrode) and the cathode (negative electrode) of
each of the unit batteries 210 to provide a heat-emitting function
to the carbon nanotube heating body 440.
The carbon nanotube (CNT) heating body 440 is formed on the
electrode layer 430. The carbon nanotube heating body 440 may be
formed by doping metal on the carbon nanotube surface.
Although carbon nanotubes are known to have excellent electric and
heat-conductive characteristics, if the carbon nanotubes are used
as coating pastes, there can be a problem of deterioration in
electrical conductivity due to dispensability and increased contact
resistance of the carbon nanotubes in a 3D contoured product.
Accordingly, in some embodiment of the present embodiment, metal
doped carbon nanotubes are used instead of pure carbon nanotubes so
as to provide effects of improving electrical conductivity and
thermal conductivity.
When the carbon nanotubes are coated with metal, infrared (IR)
wavelengths are reflected by the metal and heat-dissipating
characteristics are improved, whereby the carbon nanotube heating
body is also suitably used as a heat-dissipating coating
material.
Here, the metal may include at least one selected from among Ag,
Cu, Ni, Au, Pt, and Pd.
The base layer 450 is formed on the carbon nanotube heating body
440. The base layer 450 may be formed of at least one material
selected from among biaxially oriented polyester (BOPET),
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), oriented polystyrene (OPS),
oriented polypropylene (OPP), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN),
polyether sulfone (PES), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyimide
(PI), and polyether imide (PEI).
The adhesive layer 460 is formed on the base layer 450. The
adhesive layer 460 serves to attach the base layer 450 and the
first heat-dissipating layer 470 to each other. To this end, the
adhesive layer 460 may be realized by a double-sided tape composed
of at least one of acrylic tapes, hot-melt tapes, silicone tapes,
and rubber tapes.
The second heat-dissipating layer 470 is formed on the adhesive
layer 460. The second heat-dissipating layer 470 serves to
dissipate heat from the unit batteries. To this end, the second
heat-dissipating layer 470 may be formed of a thermally conductive
material such as Al, Cu or the like.
For reference, the first and second heat-dissipating layers 410,
470 and the adhesive layer 460 correspond to the heat-dissipating
film, and the insulating layer 420, the electrode layer 430, the
carbon nanotube heating body 440, and the base layer 450 correspond
to the heat-emitting film.
Now, a method of manufacturing the heat-dissipating and
heat-emitting film 230 will be described.
First, the electrode layer 430 and the carbon nanotube heating body
440 are printed on one side of the base layer 450.
Next, the first heat-dissipating layer 410 is placed below the
electrode layer 430, the insulating layer 420 is disposed between
the first heat-dissipating layer and the electrode layer, and the
base layer 450 on which the electrode layer and the carbon nanotube
heating body 440 are printed is attached to the first
heat-dissipating layer 410.
Then, the second heat-dissipating layer 470 is placed on the other
side of the base layer 450, the adhesive layer 460 is disposed
between the base layer and the second heat-dissipating layer, and
the base layer 450 attached to the first heat-dissipating layer 410
is attached to the second heat-dissipating layer 470.
The heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film 230 may be manufactured
by this process. The heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film 230
may be coated on the unit batteries 210 and the exterior case 220
by pad printing, spray coating, printing using a transfer film, or
the like.
The battery assembly 200 according to one embodiment of the
invention may further include a temperature sensor 240 and a
controller (640 in FIG. 6).
The temperature sensor 240 may be provided to at least one of the
unit batteries 210 to detect the temperature of the unit battery
210. In this embodiment, the temperature sensor 240 may be a
negative temperature coefficient (NTC) sensor.
The controller controls power supply to the electrode layer 430
based on temperature detection results of the temperature sensor
240. Thus, the controller may allow the unit battery 210 to
maintain an optimal temperature condition ranging from 0 to 30
degrees. In the present embodiment, the controller may be an
electronic control unit (ECU) controller of a vehicle (particularly
an electric vehicle).
Now, the process of controlling heat emitted from the exterior case
or the battery module using the temperature sensor and the
controller will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
FIG. 5 is a view of an exemplary process for individually
controlling the heating temperature of the exterior case using a
temperature sensor and a controller, and FIG. 6 is a view of an
exemplary process for controlling the heating temperature of both
the battery module and the exterior case using the temperature
sensor and the controller.
As shown in FIG. 5, a heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film is
coated on the inner surface of an exterior case 510, and an NTC
sensor 520 (temperature sensor) is attached to the heat-dissipating
and heat-emitting film. The NTC sensor 520 detects the temperature
of heat emitted from the exterior case 510 and sends the detection
result (temperature) to an ECU controller 530.
The ECU controller 530 regulates power supply to the
heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film of a battery 540 based on
the detected temperature, thereby maintaining a suitable
temperature of the exterior case 510.
Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film
is coated on a battery module 610, and an NTC sensor 620
(temperature sensor) is attached to the heat-dissipating and
heat-emitting film. The NTC sensor 620 detects the temperature of
heat emitted from the battery module 610 and sends the detection
result (temperature) to an ECU controller 640.
The ECU controller 640 regulates power supply to a battery 650
based on the detected temperature, thereby controlling power supply
to the heat-dissipating and heat-emitting film inserted into or
coated on the battery module 610 and the exterior case 630. As a
result, the ECU controller 640 may maintain the temperature of the
battery module 610 and the exterior case 630 to be under optimal
conditions (0-30.degree. C.).
According to the embodiment, a heat-dissipating and heat-emitting
film having a carbon nanotube heating body (metal doped carbon
nanotubes) is coated on a battery module and/or an exterior case,
and electrical and heat-conductive characteristics of the coated
carbon nanotubes are maximized, thereby providing both the
heat-dissipating and heat-emitting functions at the same time.
According to the embodiment, it is possible to increase battery
efficiency of a vehicle, which is reduced due to external
temperature when the vehicle initially operates in winter, and to
achieve rapid removal of heat from the battery during operation of
the vehicle.
According to the embodiment, the heating temperature of a battery
module and/or an exterior case is controlled using a temperature
sensor and a controller, such that the battery temperature can be
maintained under an optimum condition (0-30.degree. C.), thereby
preventing fire due to battery overheating.
Although some embodiments have been described herein, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are
provided for illustration only, and various modifications, changes,
alterations and equivalent embodiments can be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the
scope and sprit of the present invention should be defined only by
the accompanying claims and equivalents thereof.
EXAMPLES
Heat-Dissipating Effects of Heat-Dissipating Film
Example 1
A carbon nanotube heating body and an Ag electrode layer were
printed on a base layer composed of biaxially oriented polyethylene
terephthalate (BOPET). The carbon nanotube heating body was formed
by doping Ag on the surfaces of carbon nanotubes. Next, with a
first heat-dissipating layer placed below the electrode layer, an
insulating layer composed of an acrylic adhesive was interposed
therebetween, and the base layer on which the electrode layer and
the carbon nanotube heating body were printed was attached to the
first heat-dissipating layer.
Next, with a second heat-dissipating layer placed on the other side
of the base layer, a silicone adhesive layer was interposed
therebetween, and the base layer adhered to the first
heat-dissipating layer was attached to the second heat-dissipating
layer.
Example 2
A carbon nanotube heating body was printed on a base layer composed
of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET). The
printed carbon nanotube heating body was coated with a Cu electrode
layer. The carbon nanotube heating body was formed by doping Cu on
the surfaces of carbon nanotubes. Next, with a first
heat-dissipating layer placed below the electrode layer, an
insulating layer composed of an acrylic adhesive was interposed
therebetween, and the base layer on which the electrode layer and
the carbon nanotube heating body were printed was attached to the
first heat-dissipating layer.
Next, with a second heat-dissipating layer placed on the other side
of the base layer, a silicone adhesive layer was interposed
therebetween, and the base layer adhering to the first
heat-dissipating layer was attached to the second heat-dissipating
layer.
Comparative Example 1
A sample was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except
for a carbon nanotube heating body was not included therein.
Comparative Example 2
A sample was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except
that pure carbon nanotubes were used instead of the Ag-doped carbon
nanotubes.
Heat-dissipating effects by the heat-dissipating films of Examples
1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were measured in such a
manner that samples were attached to a 2 mm thick A5052 Al plate
placed on a flat DC heater using a highly thermally-conductive
adhesive resin (3.6 W/mK) and heated to a certain temperature, and
subsequently, after the heater was turned off, the surface
temperature was measured using a K-type thermocouple at certain
time intervals. As a result, a portion other than heat-dissipating
film-attached portions had constant temperature, and the
heat-dissipating film-attached portions had different
temperature-reduction rates according to heat-dissipating effects
of the heat-dissipating films.
Temperature measurement results of the heat-dissipating films of
Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 are shown in
Table 1 below.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparative Comparative Example 1 Example 2
Example 1 Example 2 Time (.degree. C.) (.degree. C.) (.degree. C.)
(.degree. C.) 1 0 80.0 80.0 80.0 80.0 2 After 3 min 77.8 78.0 79.0
79.1 3 After 6 min 75.7 76.0 77.3 78.3 4 After 9 min 73.7 73.8 75.4
76.4 5 After 12 min 71.4 71.4 74.8 75.1 6 After 15 min 69.2 69.2
73.2 74.8
As shown in Table 1, it could be seen that Examples 1 and 2 showed
much greater temperature-reduction than Comparative Examples 1 and
2 that did not contain a carbon nanotube heating body. That is, it
could be seen that considerable temperature-reduction of a
heat-emitting product was obtained by the provision of the
heat-emitting film having the carbon nanotube heating body. As a
result, the heat-dissipating film according to the present
invention clearly exhibits vastly superior thermal
conductivity.
Although some embodiments have been described herein with reference
to the accompanying drawings, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that these embodiments are provided for
illustration only, and various modifications, changes, alterations
and equivalent embodiments can be made without departing from the
scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope and sprit of
the present invention should be defined only by the accompanying
claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *